1938 Map of the Fenway area of Boston

The State Library's collection of Massachusetts real estate atlases is one of the most heavily-used resources in the Library. The volumes, most of which date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, document the development of neighborhoods over time. For example, the slide show above shows the development of the Fenway area in Boston between 1874, prior to when the filling of the Back Bay was completed, and 1938. They provide information about property boundaries, plot sizes, ownership, building shapes, and materials. The atlases are used by genealogists, environmental consultants, architectural historians, and the general public researching the history of their home.

The Library’s collection includes approximately 200 atlases, covering 6,500 maps in 12 counties and more than 80 municipalities throughout Massachusetts. The Library has digitized 167 of these volumes and has made them available in PDF form through its institutional repository, DSpace and with individual page images (jpgs) via its Flickr site. Below is a list of the statewide, county and municipal atlases available online.

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Statewide

Official topographical atlas of Massachusetts : from astronomical, trigonometrical and various local surveys, published by Stedman, Brown & Lyon, 1871

Richards standard atlas of the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts : containing ten double page maps in colors, covering the entire city, showing every lot line, building, owners' name, electric and steam railways, sewers, water mains, etc. : based upon, and carefully compiled from, the official plans, surveys and records of the city engineers, assessors and other municipal departments, together with private plans, and from actual surveys and investigations, published by Richards Map Co., 1911

Richards Standard atlas of the city of Springfield and the town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, under personal direction of Harold Hazen Richards, from official records, private plans and actual surveys, published by L.J. Richards, 1920

Richards Standard atlas of the city of Springfield and the town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, under personal direction of Harold Hazen Richards, from official records, private plans and actual surveys, published by L.J. Richards, 1920

The Worcester index : a bureau of information, showing in detail the official plans of real estate and maps from latest surveys : combined with complete assessed valuations of all buildings and land within boundary lines of the city : a general guide to localities, giving in condensed form material facts of value., published by Index Publishing Co., 1901